The moment the door opened, I glimpsed that the room was pitch black, the curtains were drawn tightly shut, and there wasn't a single ray of light.

In the darkness, a pair of eyes flashed by like will-o'-the-wisps.

Just as I was about to take a closer look, the door slammed shut with a loud bang, and then there was no further sound.

I wanted to leave, but the old lady didn't come out for a long time, so I couldn't just leave without saying goodbye. I slowly ate my meal and waited for her.

About half an hour later, the old lady came out with an empty bowl.

I quickly stood up and said goodbye to her.

You can't leave!

The old lady shook her head.

No, they're also restricting my personal freedom?

I tried to keep my tone calm: "Grandma, I've finished eating. Thank you for your hospitality. I have to go now."

You can't leave!

She was holding the bowl, staring intently at me.

"Grandma, I really need to talk to Lingmei, so I won't bother you any longer!"

I noticed her expression was getting increasingly strange, so I quickly turned around to open the door.

As soon as I opened the door, a figure stood straight outside, blocking my way.

He is the old lady's son, but it's unclear whether he is the eldest or the youngest.

The old woman's voice came softly from behind: "You child, I also live in Qingping Village now, but the village has been renamed Ruiwei Village."

Isn't this exactly what we were talking about earlier?

Why did she suddenly bring this up?

I turned my head and saw the old lady still standing there with her bowl in her hand, staring straight at me with a faint smile on her face.

But that smile was stiff and devoid of any warmth.

"I'm not a doctor, I'm just a paper cutter."

...

"I am Lingmei. What do you want from me?"

...

"No, that's all. I'm the only one named Lingmei in our village!"

...

"I am Lingmei! What do you want from me?"

...

"You child..."

The old lady kept repeating these few words like a broken record.

There's definitely something wrong here!

I shoved aside the middle-aged man blocking the doorway and rushed out.

However, the moment I took my first step, I froze on the spot, as if my blood had frozen.

The courtyard was full of people.

There were more than a dozen men and women.

They all wear the same face, doing their own things.

One was slaughtering a goose; another was picking corn; another was preparing vegetables...

I subconsciously looked at the paper figures on the windowsill.

Except for the paper figure covered by yellow paper, all the other paper figures have disappeared.

Just then, the tightly closed door was slowly pushed open from the outside.

The next second, the old lady who was inside the house walked in from outside the door.

Shout loudly at the man in red who was picking corn.

"Second brother, relatives are here! Hurry up and pick out a plump goose to slaughter, we'll have a big stewed goose in an iron pot today!"

(PS: Let's vote! Many readers say that inserting pictures in the middle is too scary, while others like it. I'd like to ask for your opinions: should we insert pictures in the middle, or should we not include pictures at all in the future, or should we put the pictures in the author's comments section so that those who want to see them can click to view them?)